Resource Forester (Forester)

The Resource Forester will work within the forest management team on the Chapman Forest to achieve reforestation and harvesting goals. Directed by the Forest Manager, the Resource Forester will be involved in a wide array of forest management events with opportunity for increasing levels of responsibility. Contributions in all aspects of forest management will be expected. Including reforestation, stand management, thin harvest administration, forest data collection and management, SFI/BMP compliance, forest product marketing and merchandizing thinning, timber security and land management. Specific focus will be given to providing leadership and oversight in the areas of reforestation and mid-rotation stand management. Success will require understanding key business drivers and executing responsibilities within a team environment. 

The Chapman Forest is centered in Butler Co., Alabama and comprised of 170,780 acres of highly productive southern pine timberland. High site qualities afford forestry professionals the capability to grow and bring to market a full range of forest products. As part of the Alabama Region, the Chapman Forest contributes significantly to ensure the success of client investment objectives and attain RMS management goals. 

Responsibilities: 

Reforestation 

• Select tracts and prepare supporting information for stand regeneration. 
• Develop site prep prescriptions for regeneration; coordinating with the Region Forestry Manager. 
• Update the FMIS forest inventory with planned prescriptions. 
• Use the RMS FMIS/GIS interface to produce management maps. 
• Provide leadership to site prep contractors during application events. 
• Conduct site prep event inspections. 
• Provide leadership to tree planting contractors to ensure planting quality. 
• Conduct stocking surveys and manage the collection of one-year survival data. 

Stand Management 

• Evaluate stands for fertilization using Leaf Area Index data. 
• Provide leadership to the fertilizer application contractor during application events. 
• Monitor/inspect the application of fertilizer to ensure SFI/BMP compliance. 
• Prescribe mid-rotation woody release chemical application and provide leadership to the application contractors to ensure SFI/BMP compliance. 

Support 

• Assist Harvesting Foresters to schedule and execute thinning operations. 
• Provide leadership to harvesting contractors in the execution of the thinning operation. 
• Communicate harvesting expectations utilizing the Harvest Plan. 
• Conduct on-site harvest plan reviews and harvesting inspections. 
• Provide leadership to harvesting contractor to ensure thinning quality and product merchandizing. 
• Provide leadership to harvesting contractor to ensure SFI/BMP compliance. 
• Conduct scale ticket and settlement reconciliation for thinning operation. 
• Assist with GPS data collection 
• Assist with timber sale layout 
• Assist with final harvest inspections 
• Assist with road maintenance management 

Qualifications, Experience, Skills, and Competencies: 

- Bachelor’s Degree in forestry with an emphasis on Forest Management or silviculture. 

- Five or more years of relevant forestry experience. 

- Demonstrated experience in managing reforestation activities and thinning operations. 

- Computer proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and Outlook. 

- Working knowledge of GPS and GIS systems. 

- Strong organizational skills. 

- Strong oral and written communication skills. 

- Interpersonal skills to work well with co-workers, contractors, and general public.

Preferred Skills: 

- Working knowledge of SFI principles. 

- Working knowledge of Alabama State BMP’s. 

- Understanding of soil characteristics and their impact on forest management. 

- Ability to work with others in a team environment. 

- Adaptive to changing roles, responsibilities and priorities. 

- Driven by a strong work ethic.